A Straight-Edge Movement In Punk

Have you ever gone to a show and seen that punk with the Xs on his hands? Did you wonder what those meant? Those Xs represent his choice to be straight-edge. Straight-edge isn't that some sissy punk kid. No its a choice being made by thousands of people everywhere to not do drugs, not to drink, and not have casual sex. Punk was about defying authority and getting pleasure in as many ways as possible no matter what. If you take away the hedonism and self-destruction in a punk then you have a person who is straight-edge, they keep themselves clean and find pleasure in the roar of the guitar, the screams of the fans, the rush of the drums, the low growl of the bass. sXe people also find thrill in skateboarding, bmxing, rollerblading, and hardcore dancing. Straigh-edgers find thrills in life not drugs and drinking. Another way of being straight-edge is a hardliner or someone that takes straight-edge super seriously. If you said you were straght-edge and bought a drink at a bar ten minutes later a hardliner would beat you up, or atleast tell you how bad of a mistake your making. Straight-edge kids can mess up all people make mistakes.

Out of Step (with the world)
by Minor Threat, 1981

"(I) Don't smoke
Don't drink
Don't fuck
At least I can fucking think

I can't keep up
Can't keep up
Can't keep up
Out of step with the world"

Those lyrics sung by Minor Threat have helped define an entire movement of punk. Started way back in the 80s when bands would write songs about how they were different, they would defy everything but still not indulge themselves in drugs, sex, and consuming alcohol. Overtime punk grew into many genres such as emo,indie, post-punk, and [insert your knock-off punk genre here] and many bands choose to be straight-edge getting those labels especially emo the label as straight-edge music. Straight-edge music can be anything that someone who follows the guidelines (thats right guidelines not rules, rules have to be obeyed, straight-edgers can mess up) listens to.

Bands such as Fugazi, Rites Of Spring, Embrace, Texas Is The Reason, Bluetip, Frodus, Jawbreaker, Mineral, The Promise Ring, The Teen Idles (an early 80s D.C. band before Minor Threat that were called straight-edge) and many more are lableled straight-edge bands or emo bands for there emotion and choice to not find thrills in drugs, drinking, and sex. If a punk or hardcore band writes a song about how alone they are or the trauma in life instead of getting wasted with friends, doing drugs and getting high then they are labeled emo or called a straight-edge band. Bands that don't do drugs backstage also get called straight-edge. Its not a label or genre, its a lifestyle, a choice, a movement.

People get into straight-edge by either making up there mind to stay away from drugs, alcohol, and sex, decciding they want control of there lives, or seeing what pain those things cause to people. With all the peer pressure to do those things straight-edge is a way to fit in and not feel left out. People who are straight-edge know theres more thrill to life then getting high. Its not a social club, its a choice.

Comments

[_1LaStTrY]

1st post, great article by the way !

[change_needed]

wow, i dont even know what to say. well, other than let the bashing begin.

[pill2comawhite]

ahahahh damn straight change_needed, f*ck sXe, straightedge used to have my respect, its cool for those that can control themselves, but straightedge is lame now, i dont hate people who are sXe, so why do they hate me for getting high? hahaha, i know a girl who claimed sxe and sucks dick and eats pussy, "its not full blown sex so im still sxe" the whole scene is lame

[MrLucky77713]

sXe has got my respect, I've got no problem with those who don't follow it either. sXe isn't SUPPOSED to be preachy (its members too often are though). SxE is a rpetty passive-aggressive movement. That is to say, it is passive in how it approaches others but aggressive in how it treats the goals of the movement (this is ideally speaking, there are more than a handful of exceptions)

[tremontifan]

good article. i always respect lyrics that are more intelligent than singing about sex and drugs, which is why i can't stand rap music.

[HallucinoGenic]

they take the sex and drugs out of the holy three sex, drugs, and rock and roll. that cant be right, but hey, do whatever you want, i could care less

[ShoeLaces907]

Not a social club? Huh? Then why the hell is called a movement? And why is sXe a way to fit in? Fit into what?

There's nothing wrong with being sXe (just as there's nothing entirely wrong with going out and getting smashed every once in a while), but it IS a social club. I'm not condemning the whole, but people from that scene have known to be preachy, snobby, and, yes, hypocritical, like that girl pill2comawhite mentioned. She's just one of many, my friend.

So, fine, praise the ideals of sXe, but keep in mind that they're just ideals.

Personally, I don't get high and I don't drink very often, but I have no problem with those who do (unless they do it constantly...but then, I'm annoyed with people who do ANYTHING constantly).

All that being said, Minor Threat and Fugazi are cool bands. I don't agree with everything Ian says, but he has a good way of saying it and I consider him one of the best punk song-writers of the last twenty years.

[ShoeLaces907]

BTW, originally the band members of Minor Threat felt that "Out of Step" was too preachy and that's why they had Ian sing "I don't smoke, I don't drink etc..." in the second version of that song when the original version was "don't smoke, don't drink,etc..". They felt that it sounded like Ian was telling people what to do on that song, hence the rerecording to rectify that. A few of the band members DID drink and I'm pretty sure one got stoned before a show and Ian got pissed off at him. Ian was pretty much speaking for himself with that one.

It all kind of proves a point though. The puritanical nature of Minor Threat is what tore the band apart, just like drugs and excesses destroyed many other bands.

[ChedZepellin]

"Don't smoke
Don't drink
Don't ***
At least I can fucking think"



Um, sadly the people who copy this arent thinking. At least not for themselves as theyre all little trend following assholes who do whatevers cool.

[Em0-Guitarist]

i dont drink,do drugs or have sex...but i dont go walking around wearing a black x on my hand,its just not somthing i think i should represent

[letsgomurphys06]

you people are idiots
sXe is a movement, this is true.
But the rest of you people are dumb. sXedgers have more pride than any of you. It's they're choice, and if they can go throughout life without doing this shit, they need to be praised.
Next, IT IS NOT A TREND. The trend would be going out and getting trashed, its peer pressure.
I enjoy getting trashed as much as the next guy, and am planning on it this weekend, but grow a brain, you tools.

[AlexStriker]

I'm straight edge, and very proud of it, but I don't care too much if not everyone knows it. I know it, the people close to me know it, and that's what really matters. You should be straight edge because you want to be, not because you want everyone else to be impressed.

[NoBC14]

Great article

[psychodelia]

never heard of it. if ur straightedge im fine with that, but never seen the whole Xs crap that seems a bit lame

[runefan88]

i love the harDCore scene. it also happened to have a lot of sXe kids involved......

[SRVGuitarFreak]

acuually a good punk article, wow I'm acually glad i clicked on this one (the only time i've ever felt like that about a punk article)

[whyvern]

Straight Edge is so middle school...

Why don't you just say you don't do drugs because they are bad for you? You don't have to belong to a movement not to do drugs or to drink.

[Bluejay451]

I just have something to say, and someone is gonna respond harshly to it, but I don't care. I think if you're straight-edge, that's great, and if you're not (I'm not) that's great too. What pisses me off is that people always say getting smashed is peer pressure, or smoking is peer pressure, or this and that. Either it never occurs to them that someone might actually enjoy this, or else people are on such a high horse that they assume anyone doing that isn't thinking for themselves. BLAH!

Anyway, that's my rant.

[pyschoscooter]

whenever i have x's on my hands at shows it means im underage and i cant drink or that ive already paid

[IloveMYibanez]

I liked this article and I agree with the whole sxe "movement" or whatever you guys are calling it. I'm with them (except for the drinking, I do that every once in a while) and I think it's great that they can stand up for something they believe in like that. Some actually do want to do it while others do want to be recognized as a sxe'er. I applaud them for what they do.

For Bluejay, I agree. I drank the first time because I wanted to, not because my friends were. I smoked a cigarette for the first time because I wanted to, not because my friends were. The term "peer pressure" is so corporate. Humans are selfish and we make our choices on what we want, not because everyone else is doing it.

Thanks, *Steps off soapbox*

[xdespairfactor]

this is the greatest article ever. ***ing straight edge till the day i die.

[UseYourBrain]

hey! beer is good for you in moderation. Same with sex.
I learnt some stuff from the article though. It's fairly good.

[treasonsvictim]

to the guy above me: what are you talking about?

sex good for you with moderation? lmao, that is the dumbest thing i think i've ever heard. why would anyone have a problem with people who choose to be sraight-edgers? the only reason i could see a hard-liner getting angry is if they are so insecure of themselves because of their lack of testicular fortitude to try and live in abstinance of drugs sex and alcohol that they have to take it out on people who are more secure of themselves. good article

[tragik]

Good article, but the only legit reason i can see for a hard-liner being angry at straigh-edgers is it can come across as being hypocritical if you endorse the straight-edge policy and then go out and get your drink on every now and then, even though straight-edge is not a really rigid policy, straight-edgers make mistakes.

[ad_lib_oz]

seriously what the *** is wrong with sex or alcohol. ok ok ok drugs arent that good but seriously...sheesh

[bigmattbrown]

Straight-edge is an interesting idea, but one that in practice doesn't always work. You see, it takes a hell of a lot of will-power to abstain completely from something, and to do it for more than a couple of weeks is a phenomenal effort, particularly if it is someting that generally induces pleasure. That being said, its not not always possible to not have intake of something, how many shows or clubs have you been to that operate a no-smoking policy? Although with things like alcohol, you cant miss what you've (maybe) never had, and lots of people are tee-total through choice...

[canadian bobbit]

you bad boy ..um ad_lib_oz. well actually i dont find alcohol bad. so wutever

[Valhalla]

I wonder why you made an article like this when your SN is "xstephenx" ... Hmm

[ShoeLaces907]

To answer treasonvictim's question, it's easy to resent SOME sXe people and that "how could anyone resent a straight edger for any good reason?" attitude is very much part of it. Simply put, some of them are assholes about it.

If a person chooses to not indulge in casual sex, do drugs, and drink, that's fine. However, I've known a few who attempt to push THEIR choices on others because they think that THEY know what's best for a person. I've also known a few to be really high and mighty about it with their OH I'M SO MORALLY SUPERIOR crap. To impress that upon your friends IS peer pressure whether it be for good or bad.

That being said, I'm not speaking for every sXer. To be honest I do sorta despise it on principle and I won't pretend otherwise. If you don't do drugs or alcohol, that's fine and the ideals of sXe are fine to live up to, but anyone who walks around wearing a badge for it just kinda make me shake my head with disgust. If that's your lifestyle, then fine. But if you need to consider yourself part of a movement for it, then you're a conformist little twit.

That being said, the back of my Minor Threat shirt says "I've got the Straight Edge". I couldn't find a shirt that didn't say that. However, I usually wear it underneath a coat and anyone who asks about it usually gets a long-winded speech from me (similar to the one I'm typing now) about how I could give less of a shit about straight edge.

Ah, well.

[Mad_BOB]

sex good for you with moderation? lmao, that is the dumbest thing i think i've ever heard.

ok, just to let u know, its been proven several times that sex is good for your mental health, the only way it can be bad for you is if you're not careful and u get an STD in the process. its also one of the best forms of exercise, after swimming, since it not only gives the vast majority of the muscles in your body a rigorous work out, it also releases endorphins.

[IloveMYibanez]

Wow Bob, props on someone who knows what they're talking about. People have sex all the time before big tests because of the release of the endorphins.

I guess this Straight-edge thing is like communism. It's perfect in theory, but human nature keeps us from attaining that goal.

-JB

[Knifeparty]

bluejay451 i agree i go out at the weekend and preyty much get trashed not cos im scared i wont fit in if i dont but because i want to i enjoy it just like i occasionaly like to smoke a bit of weed not in excess straight edge seems to me to be a bit of a gymic to attract a different sort of person i also dont see why it as to be related to music why cant u just not drink, do drugs etc, why do u have to be a 'straight edge punk'. Ill tell u why cos u want to fit in people need to realise that stuff is cool if u enjoy it not if it makes a statement or makes u part of a 'movement'

id also like to say that sid vicious would turn in his grave if he heard this and most of the early punk bands who started punk would laugh in the face of these straight edgers.

whatever floats your boat guys but do it for u not the 'movemant'

[foolSTAR]

So thats what the X's meant, i knew punk was ***ing gay.

[nasty_santa409]

oh, so that's the reason! i strongly agree with them.

[Unseen_hero]

minor threat was around in the early 80's knifeparty. i do agree with on the fact that if u dont do drugs and what not do u have to be straight edge? no...i dont do any of that shit but i dont go around telling people about it unless they ask. If they want to flaunt their sXeiness then let them thats their choice.

[emokid182]

If someone would ask i would say that i'm sXe. Its easier to say than no i don't do this or that. And its kinda somthing to take pride in for me. idk maybe i'm wierd and different. Also never partaking in drugs and being a virgin... i guess its pretty easy. you can't miss what you never had.

[emokid182]

oh yea very good article

[cortrules09]

this whole sXe thing looks pretty interesting. I'm all for it, except that alcohol is alright (when your of legal age) as long as its used in moderation, but i definately dont beleive in pre-marital sex or drug usage. Some say the whole "movement" is a way to fit in, but it seems like in today's world that makes you an odd person out, and people have made fun of me for my beleifs, but hey thats their problem ill survive. I think its a great idea as long as you arent all snobby and imposing about it, and it sets a good example for other people. by the way, is the whole sXe just a "punk" thing or are there sXe rockers?

[freebirdisepic]

decent article... straight edge is made to seem stupid by some people (one girl at my school got a huge tatoo that said "straight edge" and a bunch of other crap on it) but it's a good philosophy. I follow it not based on the idea itself and wanting to fit in, but instead because I don't believe in drinking, drugs, and premarital sex. It's sad that people think that because they're against what most of society is doing they can't just be their own person and they have to make a "movement" out of it instead.

[fender rocker16]

oh yes its all about the music since we all know that punk is just a bunch of muted power chords. we live for the roar of a guitar or whatever... want roaring guitar??? then listen to eddie van halen. thats a hell of alot more roaring than punk rock. o and isnt punk supposed to be about going against the grain and all that shit??

[toolman]

lame ass article straight edge sucks balls

[lazybassist]

I agree with whyvern admit you don't do drugs. I don't do drugs cuz i don't want to die. I've seen what the do to people like Sid and people like that. I don't wanna have drugs the shit out of me. I wanna live a healthy life. You might make fun of me for it but i don't want to get high, I might not drink till i'm legall don't know. Who cares. Sure you can call me sXe but whatever.

[Hellraizer31990]

i totally agree with u lazybassist...toolman u suck balls...nice article

[bigmattbrown]

Freebirdisepic,

You tend to find that most straight-edgers are in either punk or hardcore, i dunno, i just cant imagine a band like Metallica or Iron Maiden telling people theyre straight-edge. Obviously there are exceptions, but i cant think of any just now so i wont try and force it...

By the way fender rocker16, what the hell does that have to do with straight-edge?

[bigmattbrown]

Sorry, not freebirdisepic, i meant cortrules09

[RatiugLink]

SXE...thats so ironic. You know why? Sounds like a drug (PCP, LSD...doesnt SXE sound like a drug too?), and it looks like dislexic "SEX". hahaha

Personally I really don't care if they are "straight-edge" or not. I could be considered a so-called "straight-edge", but I'm not going around making a big deal about it. They're acting like it's some sort of fasion statement.

[flearules]

Dudes, just a question, is it punx tatooed on your knuckles mean you're straightedge?

[jeeba jaba]

Can an sxe person beatoff?

[SuperSport350]

Who cares?

[JIBTEXHNKA]

like what fender rocker said, punk is about going against the grain. straight edge isnt punk. think about it, what does the word PUNK mean anymore anyway? its just a name for every "pop-punk" band to make themselves sound cool.

[Beautifulilife]

Hey whatever... I just met a kid last night who is so sxe it was weird... I do drink on occasion and I smoke cigs and I do enjoy the company of guys but jesus.. whatever... I just day dont knock it til you've tried it. I may be quitting some of it (like the first 2) but sex isnt something I wanna quit.. but I may have to.. I have a conditon that could really destroy me if I have sex too often... Its not a choice for me it will be more like a do or die thing.. so whatever.. more power to those who can do it without having something wrong with them... But dont bitch about the ones who get enjoyment out of it.. this being said Im gonna bounce...

[Bluejay451]

Its true that beer is actually good for you in small quantities...it has alot of nutrients. Seems weird, but its true. So I've been told by my teachers anyway, lol.

The thing about straight edge is that it just seems like it would be boring to me. Maybe that's sad, but sex much moreso than any of the other things would be hard to give up. (I haven't smoked weed in almost a year and I haven't had a drink in a month or two, but I don't think I could quit smoking if I wanted to...)I mean, sex is a beatuiful thing, and I don't see why anyone would want to force themselves not to have it even if it seems right. I mean, casual sex maybe. But if you were in a relationship...I just don't see it. But then again, like I said, maybe its sad that I can't...

[burnout06]

If you are under 21 and you go to a club, they have to put X's on your hands. That's how it is in Texas anyway.

[dresedtodepres]

heh, i always thought the X's were there from the bouncer to let you in the door. thats what mine were always from

[Skugg]

im down with all this shit, except the no casual sex... what the *** are u guys, ***ing fag priests?

[korn11]

what the hell i have a label now and i didnt even know it and the people at clubs with Xs on there hands usally means that they are underage so that they cant buy alchol or whatever well yea this is stupid you genre is determinded by wether you do drugs or not i mean it can determine your songs but not your genre as a whole and genres are overated anyway

[MatsumotoHideto]

my...my
just when you thought ppl couldn't get more naive...

[deadkenedy]

***ing hell, i love my punk, but if one more person writes an article on the history of punk/ the way punk changed music or punk is dead/still alive, i will dig their heart out with a spoon.

[towelman]

To someone near the top of this thread. Not all rap is about sex and drugs.

[timetraveller02]

There's nothing wrong with casual sex if proper safety measures are taken. Smoking and Drugs are bad though. Yeah, I drink but I don't do it non-stop. Everything in moderation is good.

[element_god]

I believe this new punk movement shows that no one can create their own view of reality. You all who are "straight-edge" can't form your life the way you want it to be so you follow someone else's way. That is a movement, when someone decides to do,act,and think like someone else. Drugs are not bad, as a matter of fact, they enhance our lives. All of these commercials you see on TV about how drugs are bad and we need rid the world from them are commercials that the government put up on the TV. Sex is also not wrong, that's the only reason humans are put on this Earth,to *** and reproduce. We have no other reason on this planet than that. Straight-Edge is not a good idea. It just shows you're too feable-minded to understand anything. Straight-Edge is still a label on people. "It's not a label,It's a lifestyle." is what I read from the acticle, but you are still labeling yourself. Straight-Edge is the most dumbfounded idea I have ever heard of. It proves that there is almost no actual intellgent life in this *** hole. I have said all I needed to say, Thank you for your time and die painfully.

[numnuts]

i think its cool what these people are doing just as long as they dont get all uptight about it. in my opinion almost everything is ok to an extent

[Rooster]

I think this whole thing is pretty retarded and non sensical. I mean what they are saying exactly is drugs are bad... alcohol too... and no casual sex. Well unless you're a desperate desperate soul that has no self control.. because that's what it is all about... self control.. drugs and alcohol can be regulated. Keeping that in mind... unless you're a slut or a man-slut(?) why are you having sex with random people? The things that these people are standing up for are ridiculous, to the extent in which they are supporting common base morals that exist in all humans. People do lose their way but heck that's their problem no? They overdose.. or become "addicts" but who is the one taking the drugs and alcohol... the person themselves. Therefore applying what i have said drugs aren't bad, alcohol isn't bad, sex isn't bad... it's the people and the way they use them. Another point is that I'm sure most of these people have taken forms of pharmaceutcals and things like that. They claim that it's "good" because it is a pharmaceutical.. yet still a drug. I personally smoke weed but refrain from using pharmaceuticals... I mean if my body can handle the pain then why take it? I'm not gonna get pissed off with someone if they pop a tylenol or try to talk them out of it. It's their life.. it's what makes them unique and it affects peoples lives just like everything else. It's just that it doesn't only do bad things, good can come out of anything and anyone who disagrees is pretty narrow minded and should watch teletubbies in black and white for the rest of their lives. People die in car accidents everyday, do we stop using cars? Cars pollute a heck of alot... but do we raise taxes on them and stick pictures of people in car wrecks on the hood saying something like "Cars cause lung cancer"? No we don't. Because it's inconvenient for all the "good" people. Life is life... you breath and die... who cares what you do along the way cause I have to worry about myself. So choose to be straight edge if you want, I will just call you retarded. This is just another sorry excuse for people who want to be associated with the music but not the "lifestyle" of the music. Music is music... the only thing you need to be part of it is an ear (or technically an ear drum attatched to a partially functional brain so you can process the vibrations and turn them into music), the way you live I couldn't give a *** about and i don't really need you to show me a tattoo about it. Would you get a tattoo because you shit in a toilet bowl and that's your "lifestyle"? So to all you sXe (apparently it uses the same letters as sex, like why is the x there? straight xylophone edge?) I don't care what you do... but next time you're using mouth wash... or smoking a cigarette or popping tylenol.. or even masturbating(how much more casual can you get?) you're breaking your own rules. sXe is not a lifestyle... it's just another religion.

[Rooster]

I want to clear one thing up... the reason I have a problem with sXe is because it's choices that anyone can make and they don't have to associate themselves with a specific group. I mean how would I define myself then? I listen to punk and metal but most of the stuff i play on guitar is classical shit. I also consume drugs and alcohol, play video games, hacky sack... so what am I? A classic-Punk Alcoholic-Druggie Video-Game-Hacky-Sacker..
.I'll be a cpOaOdOvOgOhs (You like the O's.. it doesn't mean anything but i'll get it tattooed on my hand).. retarded... the only group i fit into is my name. All they did is take christianity or most other religions and stripped away god from it. It's like if I took hungry hippos and didn't give the hippos nostrils and called it Ball-CravingXHippos. It's the SAME THING THEY JUST DON"T HAVE NOSTRILS!!! So all you straight-edge people out there... go ahead... waste your time trying to fight a cause that has been fought for many many years because when you blazoningly state that you are straight-edge... you are clearly defining yourself as an enemy of anyone who isn't. Do people who take drugs go around and say yeah... "I take drugs... It's my lifestyle" (unless they are just morons)? SO keep your morals and beliefs to yourself... I don't care... as I am sure you don't care about how I live. This goes for anyone, not only straight-edge people. Stop caring about what others view you as... care about what you know of yourself.

[Rooster]

man... this is just bothering me so much really... so I said I didn't care... but I do... I care because when I have kids I don't want them to be hanging out with idiots like you. it's a choice? yeah sure it is... but so is taking anything to the extreme... they chose to. Theres more thrill to life than getting high? yeah sure there is... but there is also more to life than saying everything is bad. I mean I don't take drugs for a thrill... I do it because it provides pleasure... it's like sex and anything else you enjoy... except it's a drug and illegal. It's all the same shit... do you eat candy? well you're bad then... i don't cause i want control over my life( i do but i'm just showing you how retarded they or you are). That whole peer pressure thing is way over played. Almost 90% of the people I know have started willingly... they have been asked... but pressured? Never. All the ones that have are probably you straight - edge people cause you had a couple bad experiences... or you got a girlfriend who didn't like it so you stopped and started hating it. Drugs aren't for everyone but the same rules apply to everything. This article and the majority of people involved in such a clique, because it's not a lifestyle, are saying they are better than anyone who isn't. That to me just proves it is not a lifestyle... it's way to seem cool... the newest fad... I'm a punk... or i'm a typical drug user stereotype... but i don't take drugs and that makes me more hardcore because drugs are getting so uncool these days.

"People get into straight-edge by either making up there mind to stay away from drugs, alcohol, and sex, decciding they want control of there lives, or seeing what pain those things cause to people."

You stereotyping prejudiced retard

[Rooster]

Holy Fuck... the more i read that article the more it pisses me off.

"Straight-edge music can be anything that someone who follows the guidelines (thats right guidelines not rules, rules have to be obeyed, straight-edgers can mess up) listens to."

what the ***ing crap horse shit ***ing donkey ass crap is that? it's a guideline ... not a rule. NO SHIT!!! Rules that you must obey are called laws. Everything else is a guideline. The ten commandments are guidelines... you can screw up and repent your sins. Fucking heck... catholicism even pardons murderers... even at the last moment before they die. So you take some drugs and you "mess up" ... fine... haven't you realized that it is a rule.. because drugs are illegal... so therefore maybe in your little circle you can mess up and it's a "guideline"... but go tell that to the judge. Well my niece is "straight-edge" according to you... and she listens to her rattle... so that would be straight-edge music? If it is... your music sucks. I mean then anything I listen to is druggie music... and now i'm going to go and buy every cd out there so it all becomes druggie music... and there'll be no room for you. What would you do then? Cry...

[xxxdrugfreexxx]

Not even half of you know a damn thing about what you're saying, which really makes you look like asses. First off, straight edge isn't about giving up sex, its about not being promiscuous (having sex outside of a relationship). Next, drugs are never good. Also, straight edge is not a trend, its actually frowned on by our intoxicated society. Its not a fashion statement either, the x's were started by the kids in the early punk movement when they went to shows, and now its more of a respect for where the movement started, not a matter of bragging. Hardline kids don't have a problem with edge kids, because hardline is militant edge, they do, however have a problem with kids who break edge. Next, many straight edge kids have reasons other than "this stuff is bad for me" to be edge, as many of them have grown up in drug and alcohol abusive households, have lost friends and family, and so forth. I just don't see where you kids get off bashing straight edge because all its just a positive lifestyle movement, and if straight edge is a trend, then smoking pot is a trend, drinking is a trend, sex is a trend, and you're all trendy ***s. But hey, at least our trend won't kill us in the long run.
Straight Edge for life!

[HIM rocks]

im straight edge! i got wasted friday! ***ya! little pussys

[toolman]

punk began and should have ended with the sex pistols. all this poppy straight edge rubbish needs to end. who the hell are you people to tell me how to live my life. whats even funnier is the band that inspired all of your untalented icons of today (the sex pistols) were huge friggin drug addicts.

[pepsi_home]

How is this gonna help me.

[Peto]

sXe is the stupidest shit i have ever heard of and will be until i die if you really want to "enlighten" yourself go out and tripp on some shrooms smoke some weed seriously you can say ohh that wont enlighten you wtf ever seriously you dumb ***s don't know shit because you have never tried and ROOSTER is right and so is element_god and toolman, Tool is a ***ing great band that has probally done every drug there is and they are still smart and steer away from the ***ing masses and enligten thierselves and are the happiest people, find out who bill hicks is find out who timothy leary is just take time to study it if you have time to study your "sXe shit" then you should have time to look them up, "just say no to straight-egdge" - Bryan Waters, I'm out said my little comments that no one will probally even take into consideration later

[billy talent]

dude everyone stop caring about what other people think and just get on with your lives. iam sXe but who cares ok. i used to do drugs but my freind got high and commited suicide. i havent touched drugs since but i think you all dont know what the hell you are talkin about. imean how can you say that drugs suck unless you have been high or the same about drinking and for you guys that say sex is good for you just masturbate so you dont std's and crap or become daddies and not be ready for it(personal reason for still being a virgin)so i am just saying without being to judgemental that you guys need to stop being closed minded and do whatever the hell you want to. i just had to put that down. Punk rock will never die but you will

[billy talent]

dude everyone stop caring about what other people think and just get on with your lives. iam sXe but who cares ok. i used to do drugs but my freind got high and commited suicide. i havent touched drugs since but i think you all dont know what the hell you are talkin about. imean how can you say that drugs suck unless you have been high or the same about drinking and for you guys that say sex is good for you just masturbate so you dont std's and crap or become daddies and not be ready for it(personal reason for still being a virgin)so i am just saying without being to judgemental that you guys need to stop being closed minded and do whatever the hell you want to. i just had to put that down. Punk rock will never die but you will.

[billiejoe_dirnt]

aahh i had no idea what it meant
i have an example: davy havok of AFI. i see the X's on his hands in the video and i wondered what it meant
thanks XstevenX

ps. i guess your a straight-edge...

[billiejoe_dirnt]

pps: what do you mean by hardcore dancing???

[Rooster]

To xxxdrugfreexxx:

You are a prime example for proving my point. Not only are you retarded ... but well maybe even more retarded. You say drugs are never good. Well nothing is ever good if you overdo it. So we will dismiss that point. Secondly you said:

"Next, many straight edge kids have reasons other than "this stuff is bad for me" to be edge, as many of them have grown up in drug and alcohol abusive households, have lost friends and family, and so forth."

So basically you are supporting the fact that drugs and alcohol are "bad" for you because they have had bad experiences with it. Its like saying that a closet fell on top of me when I was a kid and I almost died, and also 3 of my family members were horpitalized and died from a closet. So, now I've had a bad experience with closets... and I am scarred by it... so I decide to be against closets. That's what they are doing. I respect the choice straight-edge makes... but I don't accept or acknowledge the voice that speaks for it. You say straight - edge is a positive lifestyle, but all I feel is hate or disappointment coming from you towards people who do not share your values. You're gonna say that I'm doing it too.. heres my reason. You come up to me and I light up a Joint... you will porbably say something retarded like "No.. sorry.. I'm straight-edge". On the oher hand I would never go up to you and say "I'm a drug user". That's the big difference. You say it's not a trend... but when you take beliefs that many people in the world have.. who have no idea that it's straight-edge and put it under such a label you are creating a trend. Not only that you are creating a "movement" of stereotypical, single minded, black and white viewing people. People like you are ones who are separating humanity into different groups and social classes. You are just adding to the chaos of this world. The only thing I'm saying is that you choose not to do these things as I choose not to do other things, but the difference is I'm still me and not a group. By the way... everything is a trend if a lot of people do it, but you don't see everyone saying they're a "breathing-edge", so that makes you and anyone else that considers themselves part of some sort of socially biased group retarded.

[ChedZepellin]

I look outside my window, and all i see is people having fun
Then i listen to Minor Threat, and it tells me all of those people die young
I poop my pants then realise, that pooping my pants is bad
I hope the Minor Threat dude doesnt hear about this, or he'll be really mad!
I clean the poop up then tell my butt off, stick my X's into his face
Silly fricking rectum you do realise youre uncool, you dirty big brown disgrace!
I hate people who put my beliefs down, when im condemning them for smoking some pot!
Damn those losers for judging me, theyre communists and i certainly am not!
Its hard living the straight edge lifestyle, people always looking down on me
But then i realise they'll all be dead at 20, just because they werent S-X-E
I need to put these X's on my hand, to make sure they realise what i am
Cos im 10 years old, and you know whats its like, theyre all like "Hey smoke some reefer maaan"
Its hard being 10 years old in this world, with all these faggots drinking bullets all night
Theyre the bad guys here in these over-18 clubs, not me, im S-X-E im alright
These X's represent more than hypocrism, theyre a sign of my weak fragile mind
Following whatevers cool at this minute, the next trend awaiting for me to find
But right now as i look at the crosses on my hand, signifying that im better than you
I believe that its for life and ill always be straight edge, forever condemning my poo
I know for a fact that in 8 or 9 years, i'll still be wearing these crosses on my hand
Cos i know for a fact that with MTV, there'll always be the next cool band
Telling me how to live my life, making me think that i take the decision on my own
But realise while im looking out my window, its not much fun when you're all alone
Ah fuck it this fad is stupid, im too young to even care right now
Im gonna go cut my wrists upstairs, to drown out my parents rows
Fuck life, fuck school, fuck Bush, fuck me
No wait dont do the last cos sex is wrong, if you live by the S-X-E...

[kemp7]

you couldnt possibly call your self an F****** punk if your a strait edge. IT goes against the confines of what punk means. Going against the norms you make your own rules. strait edge punk is an fu&#ing oxymoron

[xxxdrugfreexxx]

To Rooster:
"You say straight - edge is a positive lifestyle, but all I feel is hate or disappointment coming from you towards people who do not share your values." The message i'm trying to send off is not that you should or must follow my lifestyle, I'm just trying to inform everyone on the subject.
"You come up to me and I light up a Joint... you will porbably say something retarded like "No.. sorry.. I'm straight-edge". On the oher hand I would never go up to you and say "I'm a drug user"." But you see, if you come up to me and light a joint I'm not going to smoke it, big deal. But when you come up to me, do i draw an x on your hand? No.
"You say it's not a trend... but when you take beliefs that many people in the world have.. who have no idea that it's straight-edge and put it under such a label you are creating a trend. Not only that you are creating a "movement" of stereotypical, single minded, black and white viewing people. People like you are ones who are separating humanity into different groups and social classes. You are just adding to the chaos of this world. The only thing I'm saying is that you choose not to do these things as I choose not to do other things, but the difference is I'm still me and not a group." Not all of my beliefs are part of one "trend" or "lifestyle" or whatever you want to call it, but in fact I'm quite the individual. Now, if straight-edge makes me part of a group, does "Non-straight-edge" not make you part of a group? You see, now matter what we do in life, there will always be someone in the world doing something similar or the same, living similar or the same, etc. Its not a matter of who is doing it, how many people are doing it, or whatever. Its about being true to yourself. If drugs, sex, and alcohol are your truths, then go for it. For edgers, those aren't our truths, therefore we find other things in life to find important.
Once again, I'm not trying to convert anyone here, just inform them.

[element_god]

I'm going to try to end this argument right here with this post, but I hardly doubt it since people always argue over views,ideas,and opinions.Straight-edge is a trend,and straight-edgers do all follow a life-style,therefore making it a trend.You all choose to live a so-called "healthy" life by not doing any type of drugs nor alcohol or having sex.If that is what all straight-edge follow then you all are creating a "movement" and cannot form you're own ideas.Labels,all labels, on people separate them from others.Some,in a way, are very unhealthy.Labeling someone at school "ugly" or any other insult can force them to find a way to get you quiet. Straight-edgers, I have a question,other than the fact that your sad drug stories,what in your mind told you to follow the Straight-edge way?Did you think it all was cool or something,or the rules for being Straight-edge was cool and you wanted to join it?Why did you decide to join a trend,a silly life style??Please ignore me for being truthful, but it proves you cannot create your own view of reality.I do drugs,as a matter of a fact, I do them everyday,and if I die, then I'm going to die knowing I did what what I loved.I chose this way not because of peer pressure or following a trend.I chose it because I wanted to experiment with them and I found that they were great.This though is just my opinion on drugs,because I cannot convince anyone else to believe that unless you do drugs also.Drugs are not bad.And if you think so,do me a favor.Go up to your collection of CDs/cassettes,and burn them all.Because,you know how all of those musicians (except the sXe bands) who have enchanced your lives with their music? Real ***ing high on drugs. Here is a quote from a great man."Today young men on acid realized that all matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration, that we are all one conciousness experiencing itself subjectively, there is no such thing as death, life is only dream, and we're the imagination of ourselves. Here's Tom with the weather"...I also have something to tell all of you who have chosen the drug-free life style.You all ready?.....Non-drug users die everyday. ; Sleep tite.

[silver shade]

why dont we all write essays!! what fun


NOT!!!


good article by the way..... punk rock sucks ass

[*Def*]

rooster and drugfree got the idea.

most of you guys got your opinions ready before knowing what you're talking about.

ah well, thats the open minded world of today, just keep in mind theres a difference between a trend and a lifestyle.

[yungbassist]

dudes wut i dont get is if u all say it is so middle school. well it cant be cuz im in middle school & bot alot of ppl get the chance to have sex let alone a chance to deny it , & drinkin & drugs r the same issue u have to no some one who noes sumone who noes sumonew to get sum good drugs

[undead_bunny]

good article!

[think11270]

I hate straight-edgers people should do what the *** they want, if the dont want to have sex or do drugs, be a ***ing monk or something

[bed_of_nails]

I have one dude here who claimed full straight edge (No sex, drugs, drinking), but once he hooked up with a girl straight edge all of a sudden became "No drugs and alchahol". Its funny how much of a hippocrite he is.

[irish lamma]

Punk was about defying authority and getting pleasure in as many ways as possible no matter what.

Who are you to say what punk is?

[Ralph]

well, i respect the 'real' straight edgers. i generally respect everybody who stick to their principals (except rascist, neo-nazi skinheads, dudes like that)

[Damicksta2k]

Liking this article a lot! Just want to make a few points on some of the comments.

I am Straight Edge. None of my friends are Straight Edge. In fact I can honestly say i've never met another edger. So whats this about sXe being a trend? I don't know anyone who considers it 'cool' not to drink, smoke or do drugs.

I notice the word 'all' being used here a lot: I challenge anyone to find two identical Straight Edgers. We ain't all the same! I have no doubts that there are people who follow the crowd but don't actually hold the belief's of 'don't drink, don't smoke, don't ***' (as there are with all music or fashion movements); they don't count for anything. There will be those who try to force their beliefs down the throats of others (The 'SxE Terrorists' of Salt Lake, Utah for example), again, they go against the principle of choice, therefore are the outsiders. The whole point of Straight Edge is that people can choose to do whatever the hell they want (in this case choose not do drink/smoke/do drugs, if others want to, fine, don't lecture them otherwise).

Don't class us all together, and don't make judgements without knowing all the facts, if you want to have a proper arguement, I suggest you use a search engine and check out any of the thousands of websites devoted to subject.

Rant over, cheers for listening

[DIY disciple]

Isn't sXe about being a vegan too or something? Correct me if I'm way off.

[Damicksta2k]

There are tons of different degrees of sXe, you start with the simple no fags, booze and drugs, then up a level you add vegertarianism, then the vegans, then you keep going until you get to the extremists (the ones who kill people for drinking etc).

So yup, you're absolutely correct, the vegans are just more devout!

[irish lamma]

loopy

[soankeyman820]

WHO THE HELL R U TO COMBINE EMO AND STRAIGHT-EDGE IN ONE GENRE?!?!?!??!?! The whole concepts of the two may be similar, but also very different. Straight-edge yes is about living a drug/sex/violent free life, but it isnt about complaining about your old girlfriends and slitting your wrist. Thats emo. Because first of all, must straight-edges didnt have past girlfriends-haha. but otehrwise, well researched and thoughtout article.

[Guitarist132]

Nice article, cleared stuff up for me.

[Artisan_Bassist]

Awesome article. I find being Straight edge to be an good thing, and not because it's 'cool' either. Me and two of my friends all went straight- edge together because we believe that that stuff is wrong.

And guys, it ain saying that sex is bad. Sex is freakin GREAT, but the idea that works is to have it in Marriage, SxE is about not having casual sex.

[.pip.]

im not straightedge but i have a lot of respect for those who are. i hate it how people are so anti sXe, it reminds me how people used to be about vegetarianism. im vegetarian and get really pissed off when people call me "tree-killer" or "animal ****er", why can't we accept that we all have our own separate choices!

[hinobla]

there was this one kid at my high school he had black X's on his hand so i go up to him and i go "youre straight-edge?" and he asked me what straight-edge was and it ends up he only had those X's because AFI had em in one video

[SilentGhost]

Yea, I'm not going to get dragged into this mess, but anyway, I've read some people say that sXe is related to punk, and I have to say that straight-edge is not a punk rock thing. sXe grew out of hardcore punk, like Black Flag and Minor Threat, then moved into Hardcore music. Its not ONLY punk, but its not ONLY hardcore.

[Blink_Freak3]

im was a hardcore straight edger, i stopped drinking caffenine and came close to being a vegitarian for it. i love the life style and think its 100% true, and makes you feel like a good person